Florida lawmakers seek to repeal controversial international drivers' law

With Florida Tourism Day set for the state Capitol next week, state lawmakers are scrambling to correct an embarrassing legal misstep threatening that industry.

In the next few weeks, lawmakers are expected to repeal a 2012 law that caused an international controversy among the largest group of foreign tourists who visit the state each year: Canadians.

On Thursday, the Senate Transportation Committee and the House Economic Affairs Committee unanimously approved bills to immediately repeal the law, which took effect Jan. 1, requiring Canadians and other foreign travelers to obtain international permits to drive in Florida.

Although state law enforcement officials said they would not enforce the law, it has created mass confusion with thousands of Canadians scrambling to obtain the international driving permits from their country.

The controversy also came at the peak of the winter tourism season, impacting the Canadians who represented more than a third of the 10 million foreign visitors who came to Florida last year.

Both the Senate and House measures would immediately repeal the law once the governor signs it. The bills also make the repeal retroactive to Jan. 1. They would return the driving law to its former requirement that Canadians and other foreigners can drive in Florida if they have a valid license from their country.

Gov. Rick Scott, who highlighted Canada's tourism connections with Florida during an economic development trip in 2011, said he is prepared to act quickly on the legislation.

"It made no sense with what was going on" with controversy, Scott said, adding he would "absolutely" approve the bill.

Florida Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, and House Transportation and Highway Safety Chairman Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, said they intend to bring the bills to their chambers' floors as quickly as possible.

However, the Senate is not scheduled to take up its bill (SB 7022) in its only floor session next week on Tuesday.

"We want Canadians to feel like Florida is their second home," Brandes said. "We love them and we want them here. And we don't want to do anything that is going to hamper them from coming to Florida."

Davis told the Economic Affairs Committee that the 2012 law had "unintended consequences."

"In this case we need to repeal some legislation because it's, in effect, hurting our tourism industry, which as you know is very important to our economy," Davis said.

Although Davis was not involved with the legislation last year, he said the international driving permit provision was inserted into a massive Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety bill to help law enforcement officers more quickly determine if foreign visitors had valid licenses.

"The intentions were righteous but I think the results didn't pan out," Davis said.

Inundated with calls

Several lawmakers said their offices have been inundated with calls and questions since the law took effect in January.

Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, said his Pinellas County district has a "huge influx" of Canadian winter visitors "and I think everyone has contacted my office to express their displeasure."

"I've got more phone calls and more emails on this issue from my district than on any issue that has come in the last couple of years," said Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach.

A Senate analysis of the bill that would repeal the requirement for the international driving permit noted the 2012 law is likely in violation of a 1949 international treaty governing traffic laws. For that reason, the Florida Highway Patrol has not been enforcing the provision.

But Karen MacFarland, a lobbyist for AAA, said their Canadian counterpart has informed them of a case involving a Canadian tourist in the Sarasota area who was held until he paid a $268 fine for violating the law. She had no other details on the incident.

The Legislature's move to repeal the law also was praised by Canadian groups as well tourism industry officials — including many who will be participating in The Partnership for Florida's Tourism annual "Tourism Day" at the Capitol on Wednesday.

Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be one of dozens of tourism officials visiting the Capitol next Wednesday for the annual event known as Florida Tourism Day.

Falcione said it would be "awesome, great timing" if the legislators could undo the international driving permit before then.

"We compete with Spain. We compete with Greece. So we don't want any kind of additional requirement to visit our destination that would lower our competitive edge. So we hope the state makes the right decision here and repeals this," Falcione said.

When the driving permit flap first came to light last month, it upset John and Terry Blahut of Mississauga, Ontario, who drove to Venice as usual in November and had been tooling around Sarasota County without an International Driving permit since the law went into effect on Jan. 1.

With some anxiety, John Blahut checked with his Canadian insurance carrier. He was assured that his coverage was intact, because Florida had announced it would not enforce the law.

"It has been entertaining for us," John Blahut said. "We know that in Florida, there are different things that happen down here that don't happen anywhere else. I would put this in that category. Yeah, I would."

Virginia Haley, president of the regional tourism promotional agency, Visit Sarasota County, said, "I am just pleased with the responsiveness of the Legislature. Obviously it was part of a large comprehensive bill, and was overlooked when it was passed. I think the message to our Canadian visitors is one that shows they care, and that we hope they feel welcome."

"Obviously we're pleased," said Michael MacKenzie, executive director of the Canadian Snowbird Association.

"We've been in touch with the Governor's Office throughout this process," MacKenzie said. "We stressed our firm opposition to the requirement and noted the significant impact it would have on Canadians who are so critical to Florida's economy.

"We asked for an exemption for Canadians. Tens of thousands of Canadians are already in Florida with many more on the way during the month of March."

MacKenzie said his group was "happy" with Scott's commitment to act quickly on resolving the controversy.

Staff Writer Michael Pollick contributed to this report.

Lloyd Dunkelberger

Lloyd Dunkelberger is the Htpolitics.com Capital Bureau Chief.
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Last modified: March 7, 2013
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